Plan on about 7 h 56 min of driving for the 424-mile (682 km) trip from Matehuala to Huauchinango, before any stops.
| Distance by road | 424 mi (682 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-57 → MEX-57D → MEX-M40D → MEX-132 → MEX-132D |
| Mexican states on the route | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
What the drive from Matehuala to Huauchinango is like
MEX-57 (175 mi) and MEX-57D (128 mi) carry about 71% of the 424 miles. It runs through 6 states: San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Puebla. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-57D, MEX-M40D and MEX-132D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Matehuala and Huauchinango
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 2–80 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 80–122 | 42 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 122–219 | 97 | San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro |
| connecting roads | 219–221 | 2 | Querétaro |
| MEX-57D | 221–307 | 86 | Querétaro, State of Mexico |
| connecting roads | 307–308 | 1 | Hidalgo |
| MEX-M40D | 308–368 | 60 | Hidalgo, State of Mexico |
| MEX-132 | 368–391 | 23 | State of Mexico, Hidalgo |
| MEX-132D | 391–421 | 30 | Hidalgo, Puebla |
| local roads | 421–424 | 3 | Puebla |
- Mile 160 of this route: San Luis Potosí → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 213 of this route: Guanajuato → Querétaro (state line)
- Mile 274 of this route: Querétaro → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 307 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 337 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 350 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 367 of this route: Hidalgo → State of Mexico (state line)
- Mile 370 of this route: State of Mexico → Hidalgo (state line)
- Mile 417 of this route: Hidalgo → Puebla (state line)
What to see on the way from Matehuala to Huauchinango
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Huapalcalco (mile 400)
- Nature and outdoors: El Gogorrón National Park (mile 134)
- Museums and history: Former hacienda of Chichimequillas (mile 228), Casa de la Corregidora (mile 235), Tula (mile 319), El Santo Museum (mile 398), Huapalcalco (mile 400)
El Gogorrón National Park
Straddling San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato near Villa de Reyes, this national park offers rugged rock formations, mountain scenery and thermal springs, with camping, hiking and mountain biking.
Former hacienda of Chichimequillas
Discalced Carmelite friars founded this hacienda around 1690 to shelter travelers on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and to farm. Its two-story stone and lime main house, finished in 1813, wraps around a central courtyard beside a chapel.
Casa de la Corregidora
Completed in 1770 as Querétaro's royal houses and town hall, the Casa de la Corregidora is where Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, held there in 1810, sent word of danger to Miguel Hidalgo. After independence it became the state government palace.
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
UNESCO listed Querétaro's historic center in 1996. Here, the Spanish grid of streets meets the winding lanes of the old Indigenous quarters, with Baroque churches and mansions throughout.
Tula
The Toltecs once ruled from Tula, now an archaeological zone. Its Coatepantli wall is carved with snakes devouring skeletons, and the famous Atlantes stand atop the main pyramid.
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
Built by Franciscan friar Francisco de Tembleque between 1554 and 1572, this 16th-century water system runs more than 48 km between Zempoala and Otumba. Its tallest arcade at Tepeyahualco reaches almost 40 meters, and UNESCO listed it in 2015.
Church and former convent of Todos los Santos
Franciscan friars built this fortress-style convent in Zempoala, and the complex still keeps the classic layout of atrium, church, open chapel and cloister. It pairs well with a drive through the area's old pulque haciendas.
El Santo Museum
Wrestling fans can stop in Tulancingo, birthplace of the masked luchador El Santo, where this museum opened in 1985. Displays include original masks and ring outfits, movie promotional material and photos from his career and private life.
Huapalcalco
About 5 kilometers north of Tulancingo, the pre-Columbian site of Huapalcalco sits on the western slope of a hill called Tecolote.
More drives to Huauchinango
- Pachuca to Huauchinango
- Cholula to Huauchinango
- Mexico City to Huauchinango
- Tepotzotlán to Huauchinango
- Atlixco to Huauchinango
- Toluca to Huauchinango
From Matehuala to other places in Mexico
- Matehuala to San Juan de los Lagos
- Matehuala to Pabellón de Arteaga
- Matehuala to San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes
- Matehuala to Calvillo
- Matehuala to Temacapulín
- Matehuala to Jalpa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Matehuala to Huauchinango?
About 7 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 424 miles.
How far is Huauchinango from Matehuala by car?
About 424 miles (682 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Matehuala to Huauchinango?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Matehuala to Huauchinango?
The U.S. State Department rates San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Querétaro Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; State of Mexico Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Hidalgo Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Puebla Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Matehuala to Huauchinango use?
In order: MEX-57, MEX-57D, MEX-M40D, MEX-132 and MEX-132D. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Matehuala and Huauchinango?
Closest to the road: Tula (archaeological site, mile 319, 1 mi from the route); Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (aqueduct, mile 370, 2 mi from the route); Huapalcalco (archaeological site, mile 400, 0.3 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.